“I have to go to my parents’ house tonight,” Bliss said. “If I don’t get there soon, they’ll send out a Saint Bernard to find me.”
“I imagine they already have the red carpet rolled out for you,” Drake said.
“Uh… maybe. But the party might be over as soon as I deliver some bad news.”
“Bad news? What is it, honey? Maybe I can help.”
“No. I’m afraid you
“Huh?”
“I have to let my mother know I won’t be producing grandchildren.”
“Oh. I can be there to support you. Maybe if she knows how much I love you… and I’d be fine with adoption.”
Bliss held up one hand. “Stop. That’s why I can’t have you there. You might say something to get her hopes up. I’m not sure if
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. In fact, I should get going. Seriously. I’ve put this off for too long as it is, but it’s time.”
Drake nodded and let her go.
Bliss strolled up to her parents’ front door and knocked.
When her mother opened the door she blinked. “Bliss. Why did you knock? Don’t you have your keys?”
“No. I forgot them at Drake’s place, but we were halfway here and I didn’t want him to turn around and go back.”
Her mother stuck her head out the door and glanced up and down the front porch. “Where’s Drake? And for that matter, where’s your luggage? Your purse?”
“Ma. I forgot everything in Drake’s truck. I was a little—distracted. I have something important to discuss with you.”
“Oh, no. You two didn’t have a fight, did you?”
“No. We’re fine.”
Mrs. Russo wiped her forehead dramatically. “Whew!”
“So, can I come in or what?”
“Oh. Of course.” Her mother giggled and stepped aside.
Bliss headed to the kitchen where they always had their talks. Serious talks or just chitchat. It happened more easily in the kitchen. She started to open the refrigerator for a bottle of water. Suddenly, Mother Nature’s reaction replayed in her head and she grabbed a glass from the cabinet and drew her water from the tap instead.
“Tap water? We have some of the good stuff in the fridge.”
“No, thanks. I want to lessen my carbon footprint.”
“Whatever that means,” her mother mumbled.
“He’s in the basement, of course. Is this serious, Blissy?” Malinda Russo’s pretty forehead had few wrinkles unless she was worried. At that moment new wrinkles seemed to make an appearance. Bliss wondered how many of those were her fault. Chances were that Ricky and Emilio had contributed plenty.
“It’s not terrible… at least not to me. You might be disappointed, though.”
“Did they take the prize away from you? Were you mugged? Drugged?” She gasped. “Were you in another fire—”
“Ma, stop! I’m fine.”
At last her mother said, “I’ll get Daddy,” and she strode to the cellar door.
“Romeo,” her mother bellowed. “Bliss is home, and she has something bad to tell us.”
“Oh crap,” she heard her father say from below.
Bliss groaned. “Don’t make a big deal out of it, Mom. It’s really not that bad.”
When all three of them were seated at the kitchen table, Bliss began. “I don’t know any way to say this tactfully, so I’ll just say it.”
“Why should this be different from any other conversation?” her father mumbled.
Bliss held her tongue until the urge to retaliate had passed. “Look. I know you were counting on grandchildren…”
Her mother’s hand flew to her chest. She looked like she was holding her breath, so Bliss thought she’d better get to the point before her mother passed out.
“Drake’s sterile. We won’t be having kids.”
Her mother sagged back in her chair, and her hand dropped to dangle by her side.
“That’s it?” her father asked. “That’s the big, bad news?”
“Yeah. That’s it.”
Mrs. Russo closed her eyes and swallowed. She looked as if she were counting to ten. At last, she opened her glistening eyes and said, “Honey, it’s not the end of the world.”
Bliss almost fell off her chair. “It’s not?”
“No. It’s not. There are alternatives these days. There are sperm banks and—”
“Oh, for the love of… Look. We aren’t even married yet. We don’t know if we want to pursue other options or not. I just wanted you to know so you wouldn’t be hinting to Drake or asking me every month if I’d missed my period.”
“That’s it for me,” her father said. He rose and went back to the basement.
Her mother put on a brave smile. “I understand, Blissy. I’ll let you two figure it out on your own. Lord, I was afraid you were going to tell me the wedding was off.”
Bliss chuckled. “Well, we haven’t set a date or anything. I figure you guys will understand if we just elope to Las Vegas.”
Mrs. Russo shot to her feet. “How dare you! Your father and I have been saving money for your wedding since you were born.”
Bliss laughed. “Relax, Ma. I was kidding.”
Her mother plopped onto her chair and gazed at the ceiling. “You’ll be the death of me, young lady.”
“So, is it a deal? No pressure on me to have kids? And you won’t hold it against Drake?”
Her mother leaned over and smoothed Bliss’s hair like when she was little. “As long as he makes you happy, honey, that’s the most important thing.”
“He does, Ma. He really does.”
Chapter 22
“We need to pick a date soon. Even if we narrow it down to a month, that should satisfy your parents for a while.”
“Yeah, in other words, before my mother has a chance to bug us about it.”
Drake chuckled. He was getting to know the Russos fairly well. As much as they all complained about Malinda’s nagging, they loved her dearly. In fact, Drake and Bliss were strolling through the Russos’ neighborhood, having come for a visit—voluntarily.
“So, what are you thinking of in terms of a good month?” Bliss asked. “Is there a fire season or anything we should avoid?”
“The city doesn’t have to worry about that as much as rural areas do. High summer when the vegetation is dry can be a problem out in the country—or even the suburbs. But we shouldn’t need to worry about it.”
